Administrative Plan Exceptions for the SHV Program

The Division of Housing is a Housing Authority and manages over 6,000 Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) across Colorado, in addition to other rental assistance programs such as the State Housing Voucher (SHV) program. Annually, DOH publishes the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Rental Assistance Programs (RAP) Administrative Plan (Administrative Plan) which includes policies and procedures for the HCV program as well as other rental assistance programs. The Administrative Plan can be found under “PIH: Voucher Plan” on the DOH Publications and Reporting page. Look for the most recent version, indicated by the effective date in the title.

The Administrative Plan covers a range of topics, including:

• Reasonable accommodations
• How long the participant can be absent from the unit
• Household information
• Voucher extensions
• Determinations of income and tenant portion of rent
• Rent reasonableness
• Leasing policies and required paperwork
• Procedures for annual reexaminations / income recertifications
• Special housing types such as shared housing

The SHV program follows the policies and procedures for the HCV program except as noted in the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.

Key exceptions include the following:

• Admission Standards & Program Eligibility: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Referral Packet: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section outlines components of the SHV Referral Packet, which is required of all SHV applicants. Additional information can be found in this policies and procedures document.
• Verification of Lawful Presence & Required Vital Documents: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section explains that verification of lawful presence is no longer required for SHV program participants, as well as additional policies around required vital documents in circumstances where applicants are unable to produce these documents.
• History of Homelessness: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section provides a definition for this eligibility criterion.
• Verification of Disabling Condition: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section defines the term “disabling condition,” addresses acceptable documentation for verification of disabling conditions, explains when a form requires the signature of a knowledgeable medical professional, and provides alternative terms for “disabling condition.”
• Tenant/Participant Selection Plan and Preferences Checklist: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section provides an overview of Tenant/Participant Selection Plan and corresponding Preferences Checklist which are used to identify and select households for the SHV program. These are required of each project with SHVs, unless otherwise approved by DOH.
• Background Check: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section addresses when a background check is not required (for head of household) and when it is required (for new adult members not included in the initial application requesting to be added to an existing participant’s household).
• Security Deposits & Damage Payments: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. More detailed policies and procedures, as well as relevant forms, can be found in the Security Deposit Complete Packet (which can be found on the Tools for Contractors page).
• Case Management & Supportive Services: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section addresses the coordination of supportive services for program participants.
• Briefing & Rental Assistance Document: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Voucher Extensions Due to Incarceration: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Minimum Rent: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section includes exceptions to the tenant portion of rent.
• Repayment Agreements: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Leasing: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section includes exceptions for unit size and lease terms.
• Homeless Management Information System (HMIS): See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section is not as detailed as the section on HMIS included in this policies and procedures document.
• Waiting List: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Portability: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• In-State Transfers: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section addresses in-state transfers (sometimes incorrectly referred to as “porting”). More detailed policies and procedures can be found in Appendix A: Process Sheet for State Housing Voucher (SHV) In-State Transfers.
• Program Transfers: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan.
• Program Termination: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section also includes exceptions for tenant/participant conferences.
• Project-Based Vouchers: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section addresses exceptions for project-based SHV, including shared housing, requests for a tenant-based voucher after one year of tenancy, and HAP contract terms.
• FLEX Program: See the SHV Program chapter of the Administrative Plan. This section introduces the new Financial Literacy and Exchange (FLEX) program, which is available to SHV households whose voucher administering agencies also administer the FLEX program.